0s
The Hold-Time Threshold
Front desks get completely overwhelmed during peak morning rushes. If a high-intent patient hits a busy tone or hold music for over 18 seconds, they hang up and click the next clinic on Google.
AI Receptionist vs. Answering Service
The AI receptionist that does everything an answering service can’t
A human answering service takes a message. Clero answers every call 24/7, books the patient straight into your practice software, and confirms the appointment - without hold queues or per-minute fees.
Live Call
AI
Hi, this is Claire from SmileDental, how can I help today?
Hi, it’s Mark - I’ve just lost a filling and I’m in a lot of pain. Can I be seen today?
AI
I’m sorry to hear that. We keep emergency slots free each day - I can see you at 3:30pm today with Dr. Patel for an assessment and re-fill. Shall I book that in?
Yes please, that would be a huge help.
AI
All booked for 3:30pm today with Dr. Patel. You’ll get a text confirmation now, with aftercare tips to keep you comfortable until you arrive.
The hidden cost of missed calls
Four places a practice quietly loses patients every week, and the numbers behind each.
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Calls After Hours
One in four patient enquiries happen outside standard 9-5 hours. Routing these calls to a passive voicemail box means losing the patient entirely to a competitor who actually answers.
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Marketing Lead Window
Paid ads generate high interest, but leads decay rapidly. Failing to follow up within 5 minutes causes your conversion rates to plummet, burning your hard-earned marketing budget.
0%
Cancellation Rates
Standard one-way SMS reminders are too passive for busy people to act on. A confirmation call locks in attendance, without one, high-value clinical slots become no-shows.
Clero vs. a Human Answering Service
Everything an answering service does - and the parts they can’t
Traditional answering services pick up the phone. Clero picks up the phone, books the patient, confirms the appointment, and follows up - all without a hold queue.
| Capability | CleroAI Receptionist | Answering serviceHuman call centre |
|---|---|---|
| Answers 24/7, including nights & weekends | YesAlways on | NoOffice hours or premium add-on |
| Handles unlimited calls at the same time | YesNo hold queues | NoOne caller per agent |
| Books straight into your practice software (PMS) | Yes | NoTakes a message |
| Outbound calls to confirm appointments & cut no-shows | Yes | No |
| Instant follow-up on new ad & web leads (under 60s) | Yes | No |
| Knows your clinic's rules, pricing & clinicians | YesTrained on your practice | NoGeneric script |
| Consistent, on-brand tone on every call | Yes | NoVaries by agent |
| Predictable monthly cost | YesFlat subscription | NoPer-minute / per-call fees |
| UK data residency & GDPR-ready | Yes | NoVaries by provider |
How it works
Live in days, not a hiring cycle
An answering service needs trained agents and a handover process. Clero plugs into the number you already have.
- 01Connect
Forward your overflow & out-of-hours calls
Keep your existing number. Point busy-tone, after-hours, and missed calls to Clero - no new hardware, no disruption to the front desk.
- 02Train
Clero learns your practice
We load your clinicians, opening hours, treatments, pricing and booking rules so every answer sounds like your team - not a generic script.
- 03Go live
Patients get booked, 24/7
Clero answers instantly, books straight into your PMS, and makes outbound confirmation calls to lock in attendance - on every call, at once.
Switching from an answering service?
The questions practice owners and managers ask before moving from a human call centre to Clero.
Book a demoClero answers every call on the first ring, never takes a break, and handles unlimited calls at once - so there's no hold queue and no after-hours gap. Calls that need a person are escalated to your team with full context.